Flexible packing material



Sept. 2l, 1943. R B. Kme-MAN FLEXIBLE PACKING MATERIAL Filed` JaLn. 21, 1942 .nrvari INV ENT OR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1943 FLEXIBLE PACKING MATERIAL Y `Russell BL Kingman. Orange,r N. J., assigner' to x lfirpplicatioirr January 21 Metal Textileorporation, West Orange, N 'J a'cqrporation'or Delaware 1942" Serial Manasse .2 claims. (ci. 288;-11)

" This invention relates yto irriprovementsin packing material ofthe general type and kind disclosed in United States Letters-Patent to A. M. GoodloeNo, 2,250,863,V wherein is disclosed a body of indeterminate length and suitable cross-sectional shape Yformed from knitted'metallic fabric, and characterized bythe possession of a high degree of exibility alongy its longitudinal axis.

In packing material of the type to which thisl invention relates,'it is desirable the body formation be such that the sameis adequately resistant to transverse crushing pressure, land yet suffi-,1 ciently resilient to readily conform tov surfaces againstor between which the material is: ar-

ranged and compressed for packing effect. Inv

the study of pack'ingmaterial of the kind here involved, I have noted'that, when made of rovings or convolved 'sections or layers of Aknitted metallic mesh of uniform wire or ribbon' size, weight and grade throughout, the desiredresiliency factor is not altogether satisfactory, especially under heavy loads or pressure, and that the material vtends to too 'densely packy under compression without sufcient recovery to assure uniform sealing contact with the Surfaces engaged, especially when such surfaces begin to wear in use.,

Having these things in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved body structure in the make-up of packing material 0f the kind referred to, whereby the factor of inherent resiliency is greatly increased, and yet the contacting sealing surface of the material main` knitted comparatively soft metallic wire or ribbon of relatively iine or small gauge. In such composite structure, the comparatively hard and coarse or heavy wire mesh core will provide an internal cushion of relatively high resiliency factor, in support of the peripheral layer or layers of relatively soft and iine wire mesh which is best adapted for sealing contact with the surfaces against which the material is engaged forpacking eiect.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, willbeunderstood from the following detailed*4 description of `the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the novel packing material made of knitted` metallic mesh `:is shown in the accompanying drawing; in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation .oflthe flexible cable-like packing body',` peripheral layers being broken away to showa portion of the internal cushioning core portion thereof Fig. `2 is a schematic cross-sectional View vof the-body, drawn on an enlarged scale; and Fig.y 3 is af fragmentary elevational View with portionsof the core forming and-peripheral section-forming metallic mesh layers opened out to show their'comparative characteristics. fr.

Similar .characters of reference-are employed in the above described-views, to indicate corresponding parts.- l

The packing body A according'to thisinvention is made upfrom strips of knitted metallic -wire `fabric of desired length and suitable width; 'The strips preferably comprise tubular.f knitfine'tallic wire fabric members-.which are flattened to'form double ply strips, although it will be obvious vthat at or warp knit single ply strips may be optionally used. A plurality of said strips, varying in.

number according to the diametric size of packing body to be produced, are used.

For the purpose of illustration, one or more y mesh strips I0, knitted from -comparatively hard and coarse or heavy Wire, being rolled laterally to form a center cushioning member or core B, upon which one or more successively applied overlying strips, e. g. H and l2, knitted from re1- atively soft and fine wire, are convolutely superimposed to form an external or peripheral section C. The latter strips are laterally rolled or wound tightly about thecore B and upon one another until the body A is built up to a desired diameter in. cross-section. 'I'he knitted loops of the thus assembled core and peripheral section forming strips are all disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the resultant body, thus permitting relative sliding action between adjacentv coarse or heavy metallic wire or ribbon, the resultant body thereof will possess a high factor of resiliency, so that a highly efficient cushioning support of the peripheral section C is assured, whereby, in use of the packing, said peripheral section C will be yieldably pressed outward in very close hugging conformity to a surface with which the packing is operatively engaged in use and since the peripheral section C comprises a fine and comparatively soft mesh, the desired sealing of its contact with the surface engaged is obtained. f

In practice the loop or mesh size of the peripheral section forming strip or strips is preferably very small, so as to provide a substantial degree of density, as is desirable for sealing effect; whereas, the loop or mesh size of the core forming strip or strips is comparatively large, and consequently a somewhat more openly porous structure is formed at the center of the packing body, thereby providing the latter with a maximum storage capacity for a suitable lubricatng agent, such e. g. as oil, grease or graphite, which, when charged thereinto, will be served outwardly therefrom to and through the pe- L.

ripheral section C of the packing body to the surface engaged by the latter when the same is in use.

In the make-up of a packing body, characterized' in accordance with the principles of this invention, the metallic mesh strips composing either the core B or peripheral section C or both may be of composite character, i. e. the metallic mesh fabric may have incorporated therewith absorbent material, such as a textile yarn interknitted together with the knittedrmetallic wire, as heretofore disclosed in the copending application of Alfred M. Goodloe, Ser. No. 384,029,1iled March 19, 1941,V or absorbent material interlaid with the metallic mesh strips, as heretofore dis Closed in the above referred to GoodloePatent No. 2,250,863. i

If desired the convolved flexible body A may be enclosed in an externa1 tubular sheath or cover l5, which may comprise a tubular knit `sleeve of metallic wire or a composite of metallic wire and textile strands; such sheath being shown in broken line outline in Figs. 1 and 2.

For some forms of packing structure, a plurality of the bodies A may be braided together into a single body of large cross-sectional mass and of suitable cross-sectional shape in the typical manner disclosed in the copending application for patent by Alfred M. Goodloe, Ser. No. 384,029, filed March 19, 1941.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A longitudinal flexible packing body comn prising knitted metallic wire fabric arranged in laterally convolved superposed layers, wherein the interengaged knit loops of the fabric lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body so that sliding play is permitted between longitudinally adjoined loops toward and from each other, interior layers of said metallic `fabric being knitted from comparatively heavy or coarse metallic wire or ribbon to form an internal uniformly foraminous cushioning core of substantial compressible resiliency, and outer layers of said metallic fabric being knitted from relatively light 40r fine metallic wire or ribbon to provide a peripheral section for sealing effect.

2. A longitudinal flexible packing body comprising knitted metallic wire fabric arranged in laterally convolved superposed layers, wherein .the interengaged knit loops of the fabric lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body so that sliding play is permitted between longitudinally adjoinedloops toward and from each other, interior layers of said metallic fabric being knitted from comparatively heavy or coarse` and hard metallic wire or ribbon to form an internal uniformly foraminous cushioning core of substantial Compressible resiliency, and outer layers of said metallic fabric being knitted from relatively light or fine metallic wire or ribbon to provide a peripheral section for sealing eiect, said peripheral section forming layers being of closely knit mesh but said core forming layers being of comparatively large mesh size, whereby the core is more openly porous to provide a major internal lubricant holding capacity.

RUSSELL B. KINGMAN. 

